Are Your Goals SMART?

Guest post by: Edward Abel
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
Are Your Goals SMART? - By Edward Abel

Research has shown that the most successful people are those who regularly set goals. Most people would not start out on a trip without some kind of a map or GPS navigational system on board, yet many people run their businesses with very little directional assistance. This can cause a lot of wasted time and energy, sometimes going in circles or going in a direction that becomes a dead end. You'll end up somewhere, but will it be where you want to end up? When creating your goals, you should follow a standard format called SMART goals. The SMART format identifies five criteria that are needed to ensure a goal is truly effective.

Specific: Specificity is important in writing goals. That's because specific goals create focus and clarity - they have a laser-like quality. They articulate exactly what needs to happen in order to achieve the results you want. Instead of writing a vague goal, such as... "Offer more products to customers." ...make the goal specific... "Increase the number of available products from 7 to 10."

Measurable: A measurable goal is one where its progress or the results can be measured, tracked, calculated, determined, observed, or otherwise "made known." If you cannot track or determine actual results, how will you know if you have achieved your goal? This reinforces the importance of specificity regarding the action, the results, and the time.

Achievable: A SMART goal needs to be achievable. Achievable means different things to different businesses. In general, though, there are two things to consider when determining if a goal is achievable.

How easy or challenging is it?
Do I have the necessary resources to accomplish the goal?

Relevant: A SMART goal needs to be relevant to your business. A goal that is relevant to your business relates to your business either strategically or functionally. Strategic goals bring your business strategy to life. They are the "big picture" or "high level" goals that come directly out of your business strategy. They usually require two or more sub-goals in order to accomplish them.

Time-Oriented: Although the "T" of SMART appears at the end of the acronym, the time-orientation of your goal is just as important to consider. Time-oriented goals answer the questions, How often? or By when? For example:

How often: Deliver at least 75% of employee reviews on a quarterly basis.
By when: Deliver all employee reviews by June 30.

Most successful people set goals. How about you?

Strategic Planning Must Include a Strategic Action Plan Filled with WAY SMART Goals

Rat-like Cunning - Intelligent Persistence, Singular Focus

It Takes More Than A Resolution to Achieve Your Dreams In the New Year

SMART Organizational Goals

SMART Business Goals

Does your company have a growth strategy to help you thrive in today’s marketplace?

Establishing Your Sales Objectives

Smart Goal Setting Theory

The Secret of Setting Successful Goals

Steps to Reach Your Goal!

Smart Objectives for Success - 10 Rules to Achieve Every Smart Goal

The hard part (one of them)

State your goals the SMART WAY

Create Greater Success with Effective Goal Setting

Everything I Know About Business I Learned from Colonel Flagg

SMART Goals are out DUMB Goals are in

Kick Start the New Year by Setting SMART Goals

Stop Saying “Work Smarter, Not Harder” and Great Things Shall Happen!

Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Goals for Your Internet Based Business

Home > Small-Business-Consulting > Edward Abel > Are Your Goals SMART > Google +

Free PDF Download
Are Your Goals SMART? - By Edward Abel

About the Author: Edward Abel

RSS for Edward's articles - Visit Edward's website
Ed Abel has invested more than three decades learning how to build a successful, thriving business. At age 24 with a $5,000 loan and the energy and passion of a young entrepreneur, Ed was ready to take on the world. And he did, only to emerge seven years later at the top of a $36 million organization with 585 employees. Inspired by the challenges that led him to success, Ed went on to build other multi-million dollar businesses, yet he missed the passion he experienced "in the trenches" of his formative years.
Determined to find a way to educate and advise others in the construction and sustainability of a vital business, he founded ABEL Business Institute. Over the course of this process, he developed The SkillPreneur Business System, a systematic approach to the construction, maintenance, and growth of a business's--an approach that has become the philosophy and methodology of ABEL Business Institute.

Ed is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurial studies at New York University (NYU) as well as the Director of the business division at the world class Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). At iPEC, Ed directs the business division that is responsible for supporting the graduate coaches in their business development process.

Click here to visit Edward's website.

More from Edward Abel
Are you Prepared to Sell
Taking Aim with your Business
Leadership According to Napoleon Hill
Confessions of an Accidental Entrepreneur
How Does Your ServiceProduct Benefit Your Client

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Are Your Goals SMART?

Related Articles

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.


Name:
Email: